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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

v V. H. BROWN.

PIANO ACTION. I No. 371,666. Patented Oct. 18, 1887.

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Inventor H 444441 Mama M6424 4% U ed 2 Sheets-Sheet -2.

(N6 Model.)

v. H. BROWN.

PIANO ACTION.

No. 371,666. Patented Oct. 18,1887.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VINSON HICKS BROWN, OF PORTLAND, OREGON.

PIANO-ACTION.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 371,666, dated October 18, 1887. Application filed June 18, 1887. Serial No. 241,71. (No model.)

.To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that l, VINSON HIoKs BROWN, of Portland, in the county of Multnomah and State of Oregon, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Piano-Actions; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and to the figures and letters of reference marked thereon.

My invention relates to improvements in repeating-actions for pianos, and it has for its object to improve their construction and operation, whereby the parts may be lighter and the friction incident to the operation of the action be reduced to a minimum; also, that the parts may be simpler and more certain in operation than those heretofore in use; and to this end it consists, generally, in certain novel devices whereby, after one blow is struck, the hammer assumes a position where it maybe readily operated again by a slight movement of the key; and it further consists in certain novel details of construction and combination of parts, all as will hereinafter be fully described, and pointed out in the claims at the end of this specification.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a piano-action constructed in accordance with my invention, the parts being in normal position; Fig. 2, a side elevation of the same, with the hammer elevated and just before being released; Fig. 3, a similar view with the hammer released, showing in dotted lines its position when striking a blow on the string; Fig. 4, a view of a modified form particularly adapted for use in square pianos; Fig. 5, adetail sectional view showing the construction of the bell-crank for lifting the spring-jack and hammer; Fig. 6, a view of the adjustable banking-disk for key; Figs. 7 and 8, detail views of the guide-pin for the end of the key in which the disk is mounted. Fig. 9 is a view of a modified form of key-pin.

Similar letters of reference in the several figures indicate the same parts.

A represents the frame on which the keyrest B is supported, and also upon which the pad or key-stop O is secured at the rear of the keys D. The key is pivoted upon the rest B by means of a vertical pin passed through a perforation therein in the ordinary manner, and its outer end is provided with a vertical perforation through which projects a pin, O,

screwed into the frame or secured therein in any suitable manner, constructed, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8, elliptical in cross-section, and provided on its lower portion with the thread, and upon this thread is secured a disk, 0, preferably notched in its periphery'to facilitate adjustment, and provided on top with a covering of felt or similar material. The keys, when in depressed position, strike upon these disks, and the stroke is thus limited, and by screwing the latter up or down the length of stroke can be readily regulated, as desired.

The object in providing the elliptical pin ent adjustment, and when the instrument is sent from the factory the keys are all aligned; but if from wear or any other cause they should become uneven in depth of dip any skilled operator could correct them, as will be readily understood, the other parts of the action being adjusted accordingly.

In Fig. 9 is shown a modified form of keypin, in which the lower end is not provided with threads, but is left plain and adapted to be driven into the frame and the disk adjusted on the threaded portion.

E represents the hammer rail extending across all the keys, and to it is pivoted the hammer F, a suitable bracket, F, being employed for its attachment, secured to the rail as shown, or in any preferred manner, and the outer end of the hammer is provided with the ordinary felt-covered striking-head, while near the inner or pivotal end is located a projection or lug, G, preferably covered with leather or felt, and it is further provided with a transverse pin, projecting at opposite sides near the projection, as shown.

Mounted upon the key is an adjustable bracket, H, having a small point of contact with the key near the point where the fastening-screw h is passed through, and provided with a screw, h, on the other side, which, when adjusted in or out, throws the outer end of the bracket higher or lower, as desired. To the outer end of the bracket is pivoted a bellerank, I, the smaller arm of which is nearly parallel with the key, but is prevented from striking it by a felt pad, t, interposed, while the longer arm projects upward at a slight angle to the key, and is adapted to engage the projection G on the hammer, so as to raise the latter in a manner to be further on described.

K represents an adjustable let-off button screwed upon the end of a bracket-arm, K, against which the shorter arm of the bellerank strikes when the key is raised, so as to move its longer end out of engagement with the projection Gand permitthehammer to drop after the string has been struck. The bracket on which the button is mounted is preferably constructed ol'awire extending upwardly, then transversely across the under side of the hammer-rail, and secured on the rear side thereof by means of a screw, 71, passed through a perforation or loop, a, in its end; and the object in thus constructing the su porting-bracket is to permit ot'its ready application and removal, thus dispensing with the necessity heretofore existing of applying the support underneath the rail, at which place it is difficult of ma mpulation.

The button K is capable of being screwed up or down on the bracket, suitable recesses being provided therein for the application of a turning-pin, as will readily be understood. Upon the key beyond the end ot'the bracket- 1s secured a spring, L, shown constructed of two pieces of metal, as shown, its outer end being secured beneath a screw, Z, and then, after passing over a projection or shoulder, Z, and under the head of a screw, Z its outer end is fastened to the lower end of an upwardly projecting arm, M, which, taken in connection with the spring, I call a spring-jack. The spring is capable of a slight downward movement on the last-mentioned screw, while the head of the latter limits its upward movement, which may be adjusted thereby, when desired. The jack projects upward substantially parallel with the longer arm of the bell'crank, and its upper end is bifurcated, the two arms thus formed passing on opposite sides of the rear end of the ham1ner-shank beneath the rear portion of the projection G thereon, and the arms are provided with longitudinal slots at, in which the ends of the pin 9 operate to guide the same in its movements. The projection G, end of slot in the jack M, pin 9, and end of slot on are so situated relatively that the projection will strike the bottom of the slot between the arms before the pin reaches the bottom of the slot m, so that the hammer will be supported upon the projection G. A screw, N, having on its outer end a small pad, 11, passes through the spring-jack just below the slot in its end, against which pad the upper arm of bell-crank I is adapted to strike to limit its movement, and, as will be seen, this pad can be adjusted by the screw, so that the distance the end of bell-crank projects under the projection G can be regulated, when desired. A slot, in, is further provided in the springjack, into which projects a pin, i secured to the bellcrank for the purpose of preventing sidewise movement of the former.

Secured to the hammer-rail above the brack et to which the hammer is secured is a projecting jack-stop, O, constructed, preferably, ofa piece of spring metal secured at one end rigidly by a screw and provided on its free end with a felt pad, against which the upper end of the jack strikes when raised a sufficient distance, and this outer end can be raised or lowered by means ofa screw,0, passing through it and entering the bracket F, as shown.

Upon the outer end of the key is secured the hammer-check P, adapted to engage the end of the hammer, after the stroke has been made, in the ordinary manner, and just forward of this check is secured a cushion, Q, for supporting the hammer shank when not in action.

It should be stated that the bell-crank is pulled toward the rear, so as to insure its engagement with the projection G, by a suitable spring,as ordinarily nsed,(shown in Fig. 5,) as follows: In the lower side of the bracket H is provided a recess, 1), in which is located a spring, 1), connected with the upwardly-projecting arm of the bell crank by means of a cord, 1)", pulling over the end or pivot of the bell-crank and tending to moveit to the rear, as will be readily understood.

The operation of the device will now be apparent. The parts being in the position indicated in Fig. 1, upon the forward end of the key being depressed the rear end rising will carry the bell-crank up, and its end acting on the projection G will raise the hammer and cause the head to strike the string,the springjack at the same time rising, and the slot-and pin connection between it and the hammershank permitting the necessary movement of the hammer, the let-oil button coming in con tact with the end of the bell-crank, causing its release just before the hammer reaches the string, so that the blow will result from the inertia of the hammer, the jack-stop N arresting the movement, of the jack and preventing its moving too far. If a single stroke is made, the hammer returning will be engaged by the hammer-check, as indicated in Fig. 3, in the ordinary manner and held out of engagement,and ifnol'urther operation is to be made the key is permitted to assume normal position. If, however, it is desired to repeat the stroke, as in trilling, the first stroke is made in the ordinary manner, as described, and after the check has engaged the ham-mer it is not necessary to permit the key to assume normal or first position, but as the spring-jack is arrested and the projection G is pressing upon it the spring L will be slightly bent and held under tension; but the bell-crank has been thrown out of engagement with the projection G by the let-off button. Now, upon a slight reduction of pressure on the outer end of the key the bell-crank is permitted to descend a short distance, the spring L, however keep ing the jack against the stop and the hammer elevated to nearly the position shown in Fig. 2, and when the bell-crank has reached a position sufficient to allow the end to pass underneath the projection G its spring 11 will cause it to move under and again engage it. Now, a depression of the operating end of the key again will cause its movement upward and another stroke to be given the string. Any number of strokes can be given without allowing the key to return to first position; and with an expert performer these can be given very rapidly; and the advantage of providing a means whereby the necessary movement of the key is rendered shorter will be appreciated by those skilled in the art.

While I have shown the spring for support ing the spring-jack as fiat and made in two pieces, and in some instances may prefer this form, it is evident thata single strip of spring metal could be employed; or a spring made of a piece of spring-wire coiled several times around the securing and adjusting screws might be equally serviceable.

Instead of providing for holding the hammer up by the projection G thereon engaging the slot in the top of the spring-jack, it will be readily seen that the slot mentioned might be made longer to permit the free passage of the projection and the hammer supported by making the slots m shorter and permitting the pin g on the latter to engage their lower ends, as will be readily understood.

By securing the hammer check and rest rigidly upon the end of the key a more certain engagement with the end of the hammer is insured and a more substantial rest for the same when the latter is down, and it prevents the liability of unnecessary noise being made, and also of the devices getting out of order, at the same time simplifying the construction.

. The parts being all adjustable-that is, the j ack-check, let-01f button, spring-jack spring, bell-crank, supporting-bracket, bell-crank stop, and key banking-check-the operation of the parts can be regulated to a nicety, and any wear or compression of damping-felt can be compensated for without the necessity of replacing the parts by new ones.

The arrangement of the let-ofi" button and hammer-support, described above, is especially adapted for use on grand pianos; but I contemplate, when applying my invention to square pianos, to employ a bar,'R, extending across between the hammers and keys, and

mounting these parts thereon, as shown clearly in Fig. 4, involving, of course, a change in the position of the operating parts-that is, placing the spring-jack and bell-crank on opposite sides from those shown in the before-described figures,the incli nation ofthe two being changed slightly, so that the amount of motion of the key necessary to cause the proper operation of the parts will be the same in both cases. In this latter figure it will be observed the same method of connecting the let-offbutton bracket with its support is employed, the advantages having been before mentioned.

Other obvious modifications of the devices might be employed without departing from the spirit of my invention, and I do not therefore desire to be confined to precisely the construction shown.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new isl. The combination, with the pivoted hammer having the butt with the projection, the

key, the lifting-jack thereon arranged to cooperate with said projection, and the let-oft button, of the vertical jack upon which the hammer-butt is supported, a spring entirely supporting said jack mounted upon the key, and a stop cooperating with said jack for limiting its movement, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with the pivoted hammer having the butt with the projection, the key, the lifting-jack, and a stop for releasing it, of the vertical jack upon which the hammer-butt is supported, aspring mounted upon the key and entirely supporting the jack, a stop for limiting the movement of the spring, and a stop for limiting the movement of the jack, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with the hammer-butt having the projection and the transverse pin, the key, lifting-jack, and means for releasing it, of the vertical jack mounted upon the key through a spring having the yoke, and the slots in the arms and upon which hammer rests, and the stop for co-operating with the ends of the said jack for limiting its upward movement, substantially as described.

4. The combination, with the hammer-butt having the projection, the key,lifting-jack, and means for releasing it, of the vertical jack mounted upon the key through a spring and projecting above the hammer-shank, and a stop for co-operating with said jack for limiting the upward movement, substantially as described.

5. The combination, with the hammer-butt having the projection, the key, lifting-jack, and means for releasing it, of the vertical jack mounted on the key through the spring and in contact with the hammer, the stop for limiting the vertical movement of the jack, and the pin-and-slot connection between the lift ing and supporting jacks, substantially as described.

6. The combination, with the hammer-butt having the projection, the key, the liftingjack, and the let-ofi" stop, of the vertical jack IIO mounted on the key through a spring and in Contact with the hammer, an adjustable stop projecting through the saidjack and co-operating with liltingjack to regulate the distance it projects beneath the projection on thehammer, substantially as described.

7. The combination, with the hammer-butt havi ng the projection, the key, the lifting-jack, and the let'oii' button, of the vertical jack mounted on the key through a spring normally in contact wit-h the hammer and projecting slightly aborethe same, and the adjustable stop secured to the hammer-rail and adapted to engage the end of thejaek, substantially as described.

8. The combination, with the hamnicnbutt having the single projection thereon, the key, the lifting-jack coo11 erating with the projection,and thelet-off button, of the vertical jack normally cooperating with the said projection, the spring on which it is entirely supported, and an adjustable projection between the two jacks for regulating the distance the liftingjaek projects underneath the projection in the hammer-butt,substantially as described.

9. The combination, with the hammer, of the key having the bell-crank thereon arranged to engage said hammer and cause its operation, and the let-off stop supported upon a bracket secured by a perforation at its end to the side of the rail on which it is mounted, substantially as described.

10. The combination, with the hammer and the hammer-rail on which it is mounted, ot the 4 was key, the bell-crank pivoted thereon for engaging the hammer and causing its operation, the bracket constructed of a piece of wire secured at one end to the side of the rail, and passing downward across the under side of the rail and then projecting downward again, and the let-off stop mounted thereon, substantially as described.

11. The combination,with the hammer-butt, the projection thereon, the key, the liftingjack adapted to engage the projection, and the let-oft stop, of the spring secured at one end to the key and passing over a projection thereon, and the vertical jack supported entirely upon the free end of the spring, substantially as described.

12. In a piano-action, the combination,with the key having a perforation at the outer end, of the pin secured to the frame, passing through said perforation and the adjustable disk or nut mounted thereon, substantially as described, for limiting the motion of the keys.

13. In a piano-action, the combination, with the key having a perforation in its end, of the pin secured to the frame, elliptical in crosssection and screw-threaded on its lower portion and the adjustable disk or nut mounted thereon below the key, substantially as described.

VINSON HICKS BROXVN.

\Vitnesses:

EUGENE D. lVHrrE, FRANK. E. ITART. 

